A Weekend At the Lake

Rand and I went camping up at Wallowa Lake Sunday and Monday. I thought I was leaving for Provo this week, and I had to work Friday night, thus the Sunday/Monday. Turns out I am staying in La Grande for the remainder of the summer, but it was a really nice retreat anyway.

We paddleboated on Sunday, as well as did stuff around the campfire, mainly eating and reading. Monday we packed up camp, walked around the main street area, held our own photoshoot in a wooded area, got some delicious lunch, did bumper boats (where I somehow ended up soaked), swam a bit, then kayaked out on the lake. We kayaked out to a dock and jumped off. It was intense! I felt so outdoorsy! Ha! We then headed back to town, slowly but surely. Stopping for huckleberry ice cream cones in Joseph, and some cheese stix in Wallowa. The drive up and back was beautiful, and the weather was excellent, great temps and blue skies.It was a swell little trip with a swell not so little guy...

Scenes of Summer

The fourth was pretty great! Went up Mt. Harris with Morgan where we ate way too much and trespassed on the site of my future summer home. Then we floated the Grande Ronde from Perry down to Riverside Park. I almost drowned, but don't worry, I didn't. Then Rand and I went and ate some of my Ma's delicious BBQ, did some fireworks with the kids, hauled the kids to the Stadium for the show, and then came back where we did more fireworks and watched "Vantage Point" with my mom.

Saturday we went up to Wolf Creek to go jetskiing with my Uncle Mike and family. It was a blast! I hadn't made it up there in a couple summers. I jumped off the dock and immediately was nostalgic for summer days spent there jumping off the dock with Kylee. I got sun on my legs where I don't think I have in many moons....

Can't believe this is where I live!










Today was also a pleasant day. Church was nice, the potluck was tastey, and then Randy and I spent the afternoon on the Mt. Harris hillside.... Gotta love

summer, gotta love Eastern Oregon.

I Quit!

I put in my two weeks notice at work the other day! And I feel pretty good about it! Don't know what I'm gonna do, except I'm moving back to Provo around the 14th, and am in the midst of applying for job at The Daily Herald, a paper in Utah County. I am excited, and nervous, and tired.....graveyard sure kicks yer butt. Here's a picture of me not in my Sawdust Festival attire giving the universal sign used around the plant because it is far too noisy to hear anything anybody is saying...

LEGAL

Well, my 21st birthday was more than a week ago, so I thought I'd better write about this monumentous occasion.

Festivities started Friday the 13th. Though for some it was doomed to be an unlucky day (like Morgan's near death by umbrella episode), I felt pretty lucky.

We were laid off short term at the Particleboard Plant Thursday and Friday and all of the following week, though I had already requested the time off to go to DC.

Friday Randy picked me up and we went up into the mountains, around the Meacham/Kamela area. We picked a spot overlooking miles and miles of tree dotted mountain. We sat on the tailgate of his little Mexican-like dodge pick up and had a picnic. After eating we shot some guns (later Grandma voiced her grave dissaproval). I shot my first 9mm. What some police officers carry. It's a light gun but has a ton of power and was a blast to shoot. I outshot Randy with the .22 rifle, I got a bullseye! Then we ate some brownie cake, Randy kindly sang the birthday song, then we cuddled up and watched the sun set. Then I opened my presents from him.... The Garth Brooks boxed concert DVD set, an Isaiah study guide, and some delicious body mist. We drove back into town where we duked it out on his cousin's Wii. We boxed five rounds and I beat Randy 3-2. He dropped me off at home, where I proceeded to ring in my actual birth-day by watching an hour of Garth Brooks concerts...

Saturday was a beautiful day. I went over to my mom's fairly early and ran errands. I was in such a great mood that I was even nice to Tobi. While out and about we went down Adams Avenue, which is one of La Grande's main streets. I got to see all the flags up, just for me! Randy and I went to a matinee showing of the Hulk. A movie he's been overly excited for, but I enjoyed it. We went back to my mom's where we ate icecream cake and I opened my presents, which included a beautiful silver vase, in which now sits many beautiful white peonies, a Martha Stewart Classic Cookbook, two really neat paper lanterns, and the Knot magazine. That wasn't awkard at all opening in front of Randy.... Thanks Ma! Steph stopped by and brought the cutest little silver chest. Inside was 21 bucks! I loved it. My Grandma had given me a silver locket that my mom had given her many many years ago. And, I had gotten a really nice card from my Grandpa Lee in California.

After cake Randy and I ran to Penney's where we picked him out a whole new outfit. I love to shop! Especially if I don't have to spend the money. Later that evening we went to Foley Station, the nicest restaurant in La Grande, where we met up with some of my old friends for a really nice dinner. After two hours of eating, catching up, and continuing to eat, we finally left the joint. It was a great dinner and I really appreciate Crystal's efforts in putting it together for me.

A few of us went to Duke's, a bar in town, where I beat Randy at a game of pool, and then left. Bars are silly.

My birthay was great. I wanted to be with friends and family, and that's exactly how it was. Now I just have to get used to being 21. It seems just as soon as you get used to an age, it changes on ya.

One more day...

Wow, I can't believe the week is nearly over. We got to DC late late Sunday and leave tomorrow. It has been a surreal experience. I will give more details and post more pictures later. I have just been so grateful for this chance. There are things about home I miss, though work isn't one of them. And I realized just how much I love history, politics, and journalism. I have seriously considered what a life in DC would be like, be it a summer, a school year, a whole year, or more. I think I would love it...at least short term. I would always miss wide open spaces, fresh air, and clean natural water. Anyway, there will be more about my trip, excuse me, our trip, to come.

The Sawdust Festival

Here I am in all my dusty glory. My official job title is "Line Clean-Up." Real sophisticated, I know. To give the illusion that the job was more enjoyable than it actually was and to trick our brains into not dreading work so much, Kara and I deemed the Particleboard Plant "The Sawdust Festival." The nickname hasn't fooled me, but it has kind of stuck.....